This file portion of www.watertownhistory.org website
Habhegger Home
The
John Gaston home is at 413 South Fifth Street. For many years this was known as
the John Habhegger home, grandparents of
the Gaston’s.
It was
built in 1880 by Dr. Augustus Dorsch and purchased by Habhegger in 1889. The early deed specified that the seller
"resumed right to get water from the well."
Habhegger,
general merchant and owner of the Habhegger
Cold Storage Company, was born in Switzerland in 1844 and came to Watertown
with his parents in 1853. In 1862 he
enlisted in the army and served with distinction in the Civil War.
Mrs.
Habhegger was one of Watertown's earliest native residents, born 14 years after
Timothy Johnson arrived in 1836.
The
Habheggers played an important part in the development of the community. They celebrated their golden wedding
anniversary in this home in 1918.
Habhegger
did extensive renovation in the house. He
added the third floor with its gambrel roof line, and unique window treatment,
designed the garage to match, put in hardwood floors throughout. Early interior
pictures owned by the Gastons show the fretwork in arches between hall, living
and dining rooms.
The
exterior of the house has been altered considerably; fretwork has been removed,
as have some of the original porches.
Street
car tracks, forerunner of the daily interurban to Milwaukee, ran in front
of the home and were installed in 1907. The tracks were abandoned in 1927.
John
Gaston's mother was a Habhegger daughter, married to Omar Gaston, architectural
engineer, former organizer and president of the Merchants
National Bank.
Another
Habhegger daughter married Dr. A. F. Solliday with the wedding reception in
this home on Fifth Street. The Solliday
home, one of Watertown's distinctive old homes, was purchased by St.
Bernard's as a convent.
Re-roofing,
2007
Cross Reference:
John
Habhegger Sr and Jr are buried in Oak
Hill Cemetery.
